Tom Carper

Thomas Richard "Tom" Carper (23 January 1947-) was a member of the US House of Representatives from Delaware's at-large congressional district (D) from 3 January 1983 to 3 January 1993 (succeeding Thomas Evans and preceding Michael Castle), Governor of Delaware from 19 January 1993 to 3 January 2001 (succeeding Dale Wolf and preceding Ruth Ann Minner), and US Senator from Delaware from 3 January 2001, succeeding Bill Roth.

Biography
Thomas Richard Carper was born in Danville, Virginia on 23 January 1947, and he graduated from Ohio State University before serving as a naval flight officer in the US Navy from 1968 to 1973. Carper saw active duty during the Vietnam War while flying for the navy. He received his MBA from the University of Delaware in 1975 and worked for the state's economic development office, serving as State Treasurer from 1977 to 1983, when he was elected to represent the state in the US House of Representatives. He served five terms in the house, and he chaired the Subcommittee on Economic Stabilization. In 1992, he arranged for a swap with term-limited Governor Michael Castle, and Carper became the new governor in 1993 as a member of the moderate New Democrats. He prevented the closing of a General Motors automobile plant, reduced taxes, and turned the state's credit from the worst in the nation to an excellent AAA. In 2000, Carper was elected to the US Senate, and he was twice re-elected in landslides.